Description

• Wedelia is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae), comprising herbs and low-growing shrubs, many of which have creeping or spreading stems. The leaves are usually opposite, simple and oval to lance-shaped, often with toothed margins and a rough or hairy surface. The flower heads resemble small daisies, with yellow to orange-yellow ray florets surrounding a central cluster of disc florets. The fruits are small achenes that aid reproduction and dispersal. Several species are cultivated as ground covers because of their bright flowers and vigorous growth, although some can spread aggressively and become invasive. The genus has undergone taxonomic revision, and some species formerly classified as Wedelia are now placed in other genera, including Sphagneticola.

Range

• Species historically included in Wedelia are native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, with some occurring elsewhere through introduction and cultivation. Mexico supports several members of this group, including plants adapted to warm, seasonally dry environments. In Guerrero, including the wider Zihuatanejo region, yellow-flowered species historically assigned to Wedelia may occur in natural vegetation, coastal areas and disturbed habitats, depending on their current taxonomic classification.

Habitat

• Plants historically classified in Wedelia occupy a variety of habitats, including tropical dry forests, grasslands, coastal vegetation, woodland margins, roadsides and disturbed ground. Many species thrive in full sun or partial shade and tolerate seasonal drought, while some prefer moist soils and spread readily in humid environments. Around Zihuatanejo, suitable habitats may include open scrub, roadsides, forest edges and disturbed clearings. Accurate habitat and distribution information is best determined from the identification of the particular species, as ecological requirements vary across the group.